John Farrell doesn't want to alter style too much in postseason

This is John Farrell's first postseason as a manager.

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By
TIM BRITTON
Posted Oct. 2, 2013 @ 5:00 pm

BOSTON -- This is John Farrell's first postseason as a manager.

Managing in the postseason is a different animal than managing in the regular season. The in-game moves take on a greater significance each night. Playing matchups becomes more important than showing loyalty.

All season long, Farrell has been patient when his regulars endured slumps. He stood by Stephen Drew even as Jose Iglesias was setting the league afire earlier this season. He stood by Mike Napoli when the first baseman went weeks between extra-base hits. He stood by Will Middlebrooks for a time early this season and again late when the third baseman endured extended 0-fers.

The urgency of the postseason, though, will challenge that patience. How long can Farrell afford to watch Drew or Middlebrooks slump when he has Xander Bogaerts on the bench? If Napoli's streakiness manifests itself negatively, how quickly will Farrell turn to Mike Carp?

"Guys recognize it, and because we have a number of veterans that have been in playoff situations, they know that things can change a little bit -- especially when there's no tomorrow," Farrell said. "There may be a sense of urgency that might cause you to look for a matchup that may be more advantageous."

Farrell has already said he may look to pinch-hit more aggressively in the playoffs, using Bogaerts against a left-hander instead of Drew, for instance. But he hasn't been as clear on how quickly he might alter his starting lineup by benching a cold bat.

The postseason clearly accentuates the magnitude of a slump that, during the season, would seem innocuously brief. A quick glance of Boston's recent playoff past reveals how expedited a benching can be: Jacoby Ellsbury took over for Coco Crisp in the ALCS in 2007, and Crisp returned the favor in 2008.

Outside the organization, just last year, Alex Rodriguez found himself riding the pine when he started the ALDS 1-for-16. (Rodriguez was actually pinch-hit for by Game Three of the ALDS.)

Of course, there are counterexamples. Then-manager Terry Francona stuck with Mark Bellhorn through a 2-for-25 start to the 2004 postseason; that loyalty was rewarded when Bellhorn homered in three straight games later that October.

Thus, Farrell knows the fine line between sticking with your guys and giving yourself the best chance to win tonight's game. In that regard, Farrell doesn't want to change things too much in October.

"That's probably as much of a key as anything, is that we continue to do things as expected in our dugout," he said. "That's how guys are prepared and that's how guys have been successful. To deviate away from that, that might send the wrong message to our guys."

Farrell said, for the most part, his in-game style won't change. To begin with, he wants the Red Sox to be as aggressive on the bases as they were, to great effect, in the regular season.

"That's a characteristic that we started in Day One of spring training. And in my mind it would probably be not the smartest thing to go away from what our strength has been," Farrell said. "I fully expect us to be as prepared if not more against this opponent in this series than we would have been during the regular season. Through that preparation, we found situations we might exploit. We would hope that would continue to be the case."

On the other hand, don't expect him to be as lenient with starting pitchers. He's repeatedly talked up his bullpen's ability to match up in the middle innings, and it wouldn't be a surprise to see pitchers who routinely went seven depart earlier in the playoffs.

"Yeah, you might not see as many guys going 6 2/3, 7 2/3," said Clay Buchholz. "If you give them five good innings, you've got somebody in the bullpen to play the matchup game with. That's what it's all about."

Farrell may also use his more reliable relievers -- Craig Breslow and Koji Uehara, specifically -- for more than a single inning when needed.

"It's all going to come down to what's unfolding inside the game," he said. "We're confident in the abilities of our guys. We're confident in the process that we've remained loyal to throughout the course of the year. The focus on that process, to me, is what's enabled us to get to this point. We've been able to put guys in a position to succeed."